Feathebing paddle wheel



April 24, 1928. 1,667,140

E. J. CLARK FEATHERI NG PADDLE WHEEL Filed Nov. 15. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l J 3/ i i I \3z /b /d 73 I w"` 75" 30 lb 4 \O l mi a 60 J 6 I "\2,0 l Z zz\`@ g mem for April 24, 1928. 1,667,140

v Y. E. J. CLARK FEATHERING PA'DDLE WHEEL Filed Nov. 15. 1926 3 sheets-sheet 2 Kw gnvenfoz Ephraim James Clar-l( April Z4, 1928. 1,667,140

` Y m E. J. CLARK FEATHERING PA-DDLE WHEEL Filed INOV. 15. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 O el 6 5, 3157-4;

40 4' .50 guvcwro'o Ephrazm James Clark arial/Hurd,

Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES EPHRAIM JAMES CLARK, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL.

Application filed November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,461.

My invention relates to an improvement in feathering paddle wheels.

It is an object to provide a paddle wheel, for the use of vessels, ot' the typewherein the blades are moved through a quarter revolution on` their own individual axes at the commencement ot a forward movement, that is, at the top of their stroke, and again turned through a quarter revolution into working position at the beginning of a power or backward stroke.

Among the objects ot the present invention, as related to this type of paddle wheel, are: The provision of means for continuing rotation ot the individual paddles in a single direction, as distinguished from oscillation; the employment of simple means for effecting this rotation by quarter turn intervals and at the proper time in the revolution of the paddle wheel; the provision oi simple means to hold the paddle either in working position or in teathering position, except at such times as it is in process ot changing from one position to the other; the provision of a construction whereby single paddles and associated parts may be removed or inspected with the minimum removal of parts and without disturbance of other paddles; the provision of a simple assembly for the individual paddles and associated parts, whereby all are securely and rigidly connected, yet may be disassembled in a short time and with little eiiort.

A further object is the general simplification and improvement in details of construction of such a feat-heling paddle wheel.

My invention comprises the novel parts and the novel assembly of such part-s as shown in the accompanying drawings, as described in the specification, and as more particularly defined in the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in a form which is now preferred by me, it being understood, however, that variations may be made from the details shown inthese drawings within the spirit of the present invention.

Figure l is an elevation of the paddle wheel, showing the parts in the position they would assume during a change of one ot the paddle wheels from eathering into working position, with parts ot the fixed cam shown in section;

Figure 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 ure l;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, showing the manner in which one of the paddles and its associated parts can. be disassembled.

The paddle wheel comprises a rotative hub, indicated in general by the numeral l, from which radiate a plurality of paddles 2. The hub is mounted upon a shaft 3 sup ported in suitable bearings 30 and rotated from a source of power, as by means of the bevel gears 31 and 32, or by any other suitable means. l

The individual paddles 2 are so supported in the hub l that they may rotate, each on its individual axis, which axis preferably extends radially ot the hub l. Preferably, also, all ot the paddles 2 are rotated on axes which lie in a common plane.

As is best seen in Figure 4, the paddle assembly includes and is centered upon a post 4, which at least at its inner end is rounded, as indicated at 40, to be received in a journal bearing 12 in the pivot block, and which carries a thrust bearing or footing 41, shown as an enlarged head on the post. The post 4 is slotted, as is indicated at 42, from its outer end inward, and its outer end may be squared.

Fitting upon the post 4 are in turn a guide block 5, a cam block 6, and the separable paddle 2. The guide block 5 has squared sides 50, and an aperture 5l, which receives the post 4. It the post 4 is squared, the aperture 51 is likewise squared, or is otherwise arranged to rotate with the post 4. The cam block 6, outward of the guide block, has recesses (30 for the engagement of fixed cams 7 and TO, which .will be hereinafter described, and having an aperture 61 receiving the post 4 and, like the post, squared. To further secure the cam block 6 and the guide block 5 together, and to prevent rotative movement of one relative to the other, the guide block may be provided with a transverse groove 52 in its outer tace, and the cam block (5 may have a transverse rib or key 63 adapted to be received in the groove 52. Obviously, the cam block and the guide block might be termed integral, but for convenience of construction and assembly, it is preferred to torni them separately.

Outward of the cam block 6 is disposed the paddle 2. This is received in the slot- 42 ot' the post and, preferably also, is provided with guides 20 embracing the two legs is a section on line 3 3 of Fig supporting and forming journals for said paddles, Isaid hub being divided along a plane transverse to its own axis and including the axes of all of said paddles, and these halves being again divided into two quarters along planes including the axes of two diametrically opposite paddles` and the axis ot' the hub, the planes of division of the two quarters of the complemental halves being at right angles, whereby upon removal of any quarter of the hub a single paddle may be removed from its journal in the hub.

4. In a paddle wheel, a post adapted at its inner end to be received and to rotate in a journal bearing, and slotted Afrom its outer end inwards, a paddle grooved on opposite sides to receive the arms of said slotted post, thereby to be interlockingly engaged and supported by said post. and means for maintaining said paddle and post in engagement.

5. In a paddle wheel, a post adapted at its inner end to be received and to rotate in a journal bearing, and slotted from its outer end inwards, a cam block secured upon said post adjacent its inner end` and transversely grooved across its outer face, a paddle re ceived in the slot in said post, and having its inner edge received in said groove in the cam block, and means for preventing separation of said paddles, said cam block, and said post.

6. A paddle or paddle wheels as in claim 5, and an apertured guide block non-rotatively mounted upon said post inwardly of the cam block, said guide block being transversely grooved across its outer face, and the cam block having a transverse key projecting from its inner face and receivable in said groove in the guide block, the several elements being held against separation by means oi pins passing through the post and the paddle, whereby upon removal of said pins, the entire paddle may be disassembled.

7. A i'eathering paddle wheel comprising a rotative hub, a plurality of paddles radiating from said hub and each journaled in said hub for rotative movement about an axis extending substantially radially of the hub, a cam secured to and rotative with each paddle, a fixed plate having a pair of notches in its opposite edges, a sliding tiller section receivable in each of said notches, a fixed cam removably and yieldably supported in each of said filler sections, the fixed cams,

liller plate and the plate supporting them being positioned adjacent the path of said rotative cams, to be engaged thereby, but each filler plate being accessible for removal independently of the other and of the rotative cams and paddles.

Signed at Seattle, King County, Washington, this 30th day of October` 1926.

EPHRAIM J AMES CLARK. 

